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On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was visiting Sarajevo, in Bosnia, a province of Austria-Hungary, when he and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb revolutionary.
Austria-Hungary wanted revenge and presented Serbia with a list of demands that it couldn't accept. So, to teach the Serbs a lesson, Austria-Hungary, backed by its ally Germany, declared war on Serbia. The Serbs had the support of Russia, which declared a mobilization on July 30. On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia.
Well, that was one of the triggers. Throughout the month of July and early August, there was all sorts of diplomatic wrangling and exchanges of messages among the future participants.
In any event, war would have come anyway. In 1903-5 Germany developed the Schleiffen plan to invade the Low Countries and France and attack Russia. The plan was changed in 1906, when Helmuth von Moltke succeeded Count Alfred Schleiffen as chief of the German general staff. Moltke altered the plan and, it is generally believed, weakened it (but that's another story).
The plan called for the invasion of Belgium. Britain had pledged to guarantee Belgium's neutrality. When Germany actually invaded Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany. On August 3, Germany declared war on France. Belgium was next on August 4. Also on August 4, Britain sent Germany an ultimatum to stop violating Belgium's neutrality.
That's the gist of the war's beginning. The chain of events leading up to war is complicated-- Gjampol
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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What is historically significant about world war 1?
The assassination the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife was critical in setting off the chain of events that led to the First World War, it is the most commonly known and probably most significant event of the war.
What specific event led to the start of World War I?
The assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hunagarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian Black Hand member, Gavrilo Princip.
What event marked the End of World War 1?
The event that officially marked the end of World War I was the Treaty of Versailles. It was signed in a railroad car on June 28, 1919.
What are the events that led America to world war 1?
looting
Although a number of things brought about World War 1 there was one event that pushed Europe over the edge What was that event?
The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was the one event that pushed Europe over the edge and brought about World War I.
What event led to Russia's early exit from world war 1?
The Bolshevik Revolution was the event that led to Russia's early exit from World War 1. It was a costly war for Russia.
What was a major event that led to World War 1?
The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was a major event that led to WW1
What event led the us to world war 2?
pearl harbour
What event led to a decisive shift away from isolationism in the the US?
World War I
What event led up to world war 2?
German invasion of Poland
What event occurred first and led to the other three?
World War 1
What event led to a decisive shift away from isolationism the US?
World War I
What event led the US entry to world war 2?
pearl harbour
What event led to decisive shift away from isolationism in the US?
World War I
What event led up to world war 2 in Europe?
Germany invaded Poland
What event let to World War 1?
Many events led to world war1 but the main event that started the war was when archduke Franz Ferdinand of austria-Hungary was assassinated by a serbian terrorist Many events led to world war1 but the main event that started the war was when archduke Franz Ferdinand of austria-Hungary was assassinated by a serbian terrorist
What event in order led to Alaska and Hawaii becoming part of the US?
World war 2
